He Knew He Was Right eBook

’I am so glad. For, of course, Mr Gibson,
when we heard it we thought a great deal about it.
A man’s happiness depends so much on whom he
marries doesn’t it? And a clergyman’s
more than anybody else’s. And we didn’t
think she was quite the sort of woman that you would
like. You see, she has had no advantages, poor
thing! She has been shut up in a little country
cottage all her life, just a labourer’s hovel,
no more, and though it wasn’t her fault, of
course, and we all pitied her, and were so glad when
Miss Stanbury brought her to the Close—­still,
you know, though one was very glad of her as an acquaintance,
yet, you know, as a wife and for such a dear, dear
friend.’ She went on, and said many other
things with equal enthusiasm, and then wiped her eyes,
and then smiled and laughed. After that she declared
that she was quite happy, so happy; and so she left
him. The poor man, after the falsehood had been
extracted from him, said nothing more; but sat, in
patience, listening to the raptures and enthusiasm
of his friend. He knew that he had disgraced
himself; and he knew also that his disgrace would be
known, if Dorothy Stanbury should accept his offer
on the morrow. And yet how hardly he had been
used! What answer could he have given compatible
both with the truth and with his own personal dignity?

About half an hour afterwards, he was walking back
to Exeter with Brooke Burgess, and then Brooke did
ask him a question or two.

‘Nice girls those Frenches, I think,’
said Brooke.

‘Very nice,’ said Mr Gibson.

‘How Miss Stanbury does hate them,’ says
Brooke.

‘Not hate them, I hope,’ said Mr Gibson.

‘She doesn’t love them does she?’

’Well, as for love, yes; in one sense I hope
she does. Miss Stanbury, you know, is a woman
who expresses herself strongly.’

’What would she say, if she were told that you
and I were going to marry those two girls? We
are both favourites, you know.’

‘Dear me! What a very odd supposition,’
said Mr Gibson.

‘For my part, I don’t think I shall,’
said Brooke.

‘I don’t suppose I shall either,’
said Mr Gibson, with a gravity which was intended
to convey some smattering of rebuke.

‘A fellow might do worse, you know,’ said
Brooke. ’For my part, I rather like girls
with chignons, and all that sort of get-up. But
the worst of it is, one can’t marry two at a
time.’